Fiber transfer controlling apparatus and method for main cylinder of a card



Dem 28. 1955 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,225,391

FIBER TRANSFER CDNTROLLING APPARATUS AND IETHOD FOR IAIN CYLINDER OF ACARD Filed July 20, 1962 4 Sheets-Shoat 1 SOURCE- YNVENTOR. Joe- E.\Nuwenuasr ATTORNEYS Dec. 28. 1 J. R. WHITEHURST FIBER TRANSFERCONTROLLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAIN CYLINDER OF A CARD 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1962 INVENTOR. Joe- R. WmTE-Husas'r ATTORNE Y6 Dec. 2 1965 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,225,391

FIBER TRANSFER CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAIN CYLINDER OF ACARD Filed y 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR; J0E- E. WHH'EHLIRST nfi M MW A7' TOR/VE Y5 Dec. 28, 1 J. R. WHITEHURST FIBER TRANSFER CONTROLLINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAIN CYLINDER OF A CARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed July 20, 1962 INVENTOR. JOE R. WHITEHUR$T T MAA4W ATTORNE Y5United States Patent 3,225,391 FIBER TRANSFER CONTROLLING APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR MAIN CYLTNDER OF A CARD Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City,N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C., acorporation of North Carolina Filed July 20, 1962, Ser. No. 211,241 13Claims. (Cl. 1998) The present invention relates to carding machines,and more particularly to an apparatus and method for preventing theaccumulation or build-up of fibers on the doifer cylinder of suchcarding machine when the same is not rotating.

In a conventional carding machine, there is normally provided arotatable large main cylinder having clothing comprising many thousandclosely spaced wires extending outwardly from the outer surface of themain cylinder. A lap of textile fibers is fed by a pair of lap feedrolls to a licker-in which opens the lap to some extent into clumps offibers. These clumps of fibers are transferred from the licker-in to themain cylinder. The clothing on the main cylinder carries the clumps offibers forwardly as the main cylinder rotates and cooperates to furtheropen the clumps of fibers with similar clothing carried by a pluralityof revolving flats which move in close proximity to the surface of themain cylinder and in the same direction, but at a slower speed.

A doffer cylinder is disposed on the opposite side of the main cylinderfrom the licker-in and is positioned closely adjacent thereto. Thedofifer cylinder has clothing thereon similar to the main cylinder whichpasses in close proximity to the clothing of the main cylinder. At thepoint of closest proximity the clothing on the dolfer cylinder travelsin the same linear direction as the clothing on the main cylinder but ata slower speed. The fibers are therefore further opened into a thin weband the majority of the textile fibers are removed from the clothing ofthe main cylinder by the doffer clothing to eifect transference of thefibers. The fibers are subsequently removed from the doifer cylinder inthe form of a web which is normally condensed into sliver form which inturn is normally coiled in a suitable receptacle.

When the operation of conventional carding machines is terminated, it isthe normal practice to stop the lap feed rolls and dofter cylinder andto maintain the main cylinder and licker-in rotating. This isaccomplished by providing a drive system for the carding machines inwhich the drive to the doffer cylinder and lap feed rolls may beterminated and started at will without interrupting the drive to themain cylinder. It is noted that the dofier cylinder has a period ofdeceleration when the drive thereto is terminated before the doifercylinder reaches a full stop and a period of acceleration when the drivethereto is started before the doffer cylinder reaches normal operatingspeed. Since the main cylinder is rotating at a constant speed, i.e.,many times the speed of the doflfer cylinder in normal operation, it canreadily be appreciated that when the speed of the dofier cylinder isreduced during the deceleration and acceleration periods or completelystopped that the amount of fibers on the dotfer cylinder will beincreased. This build-up or greater accumulation of textile fibersincreases as the speed of the doifer cylinder decreases and is thereforegreatest when the doffer cylinder is completely stopped. Further, thebuild-up or accumulation of fibers decrease as the speed of the dotfercylinder increases during the acceleration period.

This greater accumulation of fibers travels around the doffer cylinderand is removed there-from with the web 3,225,391 Patented Dec. 28, 1965"ice which results in a considerably thickened place therein. Theextraweight of this thickened portion normally results in breaking ofthe web and consequently, disruption of the sliver. The operator of thecard is therefore required to piece up the sliver causing considerablewaste of time and production as well as unevenness in the sliverproduced. Furthermore, the portion of the web with the thickened portiontherein has to be removed prior to the piece up and is then relegated towaste.

Even if the web is not broken, the thickened portion causes an abnormalenlargement in the resulting sliver. This abnormal enlargement causesproblems in the further processing of the sliver into the desired sizeyarn and can even disrupt further processing.

Heretofore, no means has been provided for preventing this greateraccumulation of fibers on the doifer cylinder when the normal operationthereof is interrupted. The prior practice has been to accept thisaccumulation of fibers and the consequential broken web and unevenplaces in the sliver or the abnormal enlargements and their resultingproblems.

To achieve a uniform sliver by obviating the aforementioned problems,the present invention contemplates controlling the transfer of fibersfrom the main cylinder to the dotfer cylinder in such a manner tomaintain substantially the same amount of fibers on the doffer cylinderduring the period when normal operation thereof is interrupted as theamount of fibers thereon during normal operation thereof. In thisregard, the present invention contemplates reducing the amount of fiberstransferred onto the doffer cylinder in direct proportion to thedeceleration thereof during the period of such deceleration, preventingthe transfer of fibers thereto during the period when the doffercylinder is not rotating, and increasing the transfer of fibers indirect proportion to the acceleration of the dotier cylinder during theperiod of such acceleration.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus and method for a carding machine wherein the transfer offibers from the rotating main cylinder to the doifer cylinder iscontrolled during the period when the normal operation of the doffercylinder is interrupted to prevent breaking or unevenness in the web andsliver removed from the doifer cylinder.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for a carding machine Wherein the transfer of fibers from therotating main cylinder to the doffer cylinder is reduced in directproportion to deceleration of the dotfer cylinder when the normaloperation thereof is interrupted.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method of the character last described wherein transfer offibers from the main cylinder to the dolfer cylinder is prevented whenthe doffer cylinder is not rotating, and wherein the transfer of fibersfrom the main cylinder to the doffer cylinder is increased in directproportion to acceleration of the doifer cylinder when the same isstarted rotating again.

A still more specific object of the present invention is to providemeans disposed adjacent to the point of tangency of the main and doffercylinders and which is operable when the dolfer cylinder is stopped todirect a stream of air into the surface of the main cylinder forsubstantially the full width thereof and in a direction to exert acentripetal force on the textile fibers carried thereby having at leasta component directed inwardly toward the axis of the main cylinder toretain the fibers on the main cylinder so that the same will pass by thedoffer cylinder without being cast thereon.

A further more specific object of the present invention is to providemeans of the character last described which main cylinder 21 (FIGURES 3and is adjustable to vary the retaining force exerted on the fibers onthe main cylinder for maintaining these fibers on the main cylinder andthus to prevent transfer thereof onto the doffer cylinder.

A still further more specific object of the present invention is toprovide a chamber disposed forwardly of the point of tangency of themain and dolfer cylinders with respect to the direction of rotationthereof and communicating with the surface of the main cylinder throughat least one elongate restricted opening for directing a stream of aironto the surface of the main cylinder in a direction to force the fiberscarried thereby deeper into the card clothing thereon so that the fibersare retained on the main cylinder as they are carried past the doffercylinder, the walls defining the opening extending inwardly toward themain cylinder at a downward acute angle relative to the horizontal or inthe general direction of the point of tangency of said main and doifercylinders to prevent fibers from being cast off the main cylinder andthrough the opening into the chamber when air is not being directedtherethrough.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofpreventing build-up or accumulations of textile fibers on the doffercylinder of a carding machine when the doifer cylinder is not rotatingand the main cylinder thereof is still rotating wherein air currents aredirected against the main cylinder adjacent the point of tangency ofsaid main and dofier cylinders to cause the fibers carried by said maincylinder to be forced into the clothing of the main cylinder until thefibers have been carried past the doifer cylinder.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of acarding machine embodying the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the medialportion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 and showing portions of themain cylinder and doffer cylinder of the carding machine with theapparatus of the present invention associated therewith;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view with portions broken away of the apparatusof the present invention shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially alongline 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG- URE 2 showing anotherembodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view similar to FIGURE 3 of the apparatus shownin FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially alongline 7--7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of a portion of the main cylinder of acarding machine with still another embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention associated therewith;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical section of the apparatus shown inFIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of one end portion of the apparatus shownin FIGURE 8 with portions broken away; and

FIGURE 11 is a schematic View of the apparatus of the present inventionshowing the mechanism for controlling the same.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, thereis shown a carding machine generally indicated at which includes anorm-ally rotating Main cylinder 21 has clothing 22 (FIGURES 3 and 5)thereon Which comprises many thousand closely spaced Wires upstandingfrom and substantially covering the outer surface of the main cylinder.A licker-in 23 (FIGURE 1) is disposed adjacent main cylinder 21 at thereaward side thereof and a pair of feed rolls (not shown) is disposedadjacent licker-in 23 to feed a lap L of textile fibers to licker-in 23which opens the lap into clumps and feeds these clumps to main cylinder21. Main cylinder 21 cooperates with a plurality of revolving flats 24which are positioned over main cylinder 21 and in close proximitythereto. Revolving flats 24 likewise have clothing thereon (not shown)which moves in the same direction as clothing 22 but at a slower speedso that the clothing on flats 24 cooperates with clothing 22 on maincylinder 21 to further open the clumps of textile fibers to clean thetextile fibers as is well known in this type of machine.

A doifer cylinder 25 (FIGURES 3 and 5) is disposed closely adjacent tomain cylinder 21 at the forward side thereof and has clothing 26thereon. Main cylinder 21 and doifer cylinder 25 cooperate to define apoint of tangency where clothing 26 on doffer cylinder 25 passes inclose proximity to clothing '22 on main cylinder 21. Doffer cylinder 25rotates at a slower speed than main cylinder 21 and in the oppositeangular direction so that clothing 26 is traveling in the same lineardirection as but at a slower speed than clothing 22. Clothing 22 and 26cooperate to further open the textile fibers and doifer cylinder 25removes the textile fibers from main cylinder 21 and carries the samearound therebeneath to a point at the forward side thereof where thesame are removed by a doffer comb 27 (FIGURE 1) of conventionalconstruction.

The web W removed by comb 27 is directed through a trumpet (not shown)which condenses the web into a sliver S. A pair of calender rolls 30 arepositioned on the opposite side of the trumpet from comb 27 and receivethe sliver there-between. Calender rolls 30 serve to draw the web oftextile fibers through the trumpet and to deliver the sliver S to acoiler head 31. Coile-r head 31 coils the sliver S within a suitablereceptacleor sliver can 32. It is noted that coiler head 31 preferablyincludes a conventional stop motion (not shown) which will serve to stopthe carding machine 20 when the sliver S or the web W breaks.

The operating elements of a carding machine are conventionally driven inseveral different manners and the following description is of a typicaldrive for a carding machine of this type. The main cylinder 21 is drivenfrom an overhead line shaft (not shown) by a belt (also not shown) whichis supported at its lower end by fast and loose pulleys 33, 34,respectively, (FIGURE 1). Fast pulley 33 is drivingly mounted on shaft35 of main cylinder 21 and loose pulley 34 is mounted on shaft 35 forfree rotation relative thereto. The drive belt is shiftable between fastpulley 33 and loose pulley 34 to control the rotation of main cylinder21. Licker-in 23 is driven from shaft 35 of main cylinder 21 by a beltand pulley arrangement (not shown).

A :drive pulley 36 is mounted on the shaft of licker-in 23 for rotationtherewith and drivingly supports one end of a belt 37. The other end ofbelt 37 is supported by a pulley 40 mounted on a stub shaft 41. Stubshaft 41 is ournaled for rotation on a control lever 42 which is mountedfor pivotal movement about a pivot pin 43. A pinion gear 44 (FIGURE 11),is mounted on shaft 41 for rotation therewith and is movable intodriving engagement with a gear 45. Pivot pin 43 is adjustably mounted onthe frame of carding machine 26 to vary the distance which gear 44 mustmove to mesh with gear 45. Gear 45 1s drivingly mounted on shaft 46 ofdoflFer cylinder 25 and also serves to drive a first intermediate gear47 mounted in meshing relationship therewith. A second intermediate gear48 is disposed in meshing relationship with first intermediate gear 47and with a gear 59 mounted on shaft 51 of lower calender roll 30. It isnoted that upper calender roll 30 is an idler roll mounted for freerotation and is driven by frictional contact with lower calender roll30. The coiler head 31 is driven from shaft 51 of lower calender roll 30and comb 27 is driven from main cylinder 21 in a manner not shown. Thelap feed rolls are driven from shaft 46 of doffer cylinder 25 in amanner also not shown, but in a manner which is conventional.

An operating handle 52 is pivotally mounted at the front of cardingmachine 29 and includes a cam portion 53 which is disposed beneath theforward end of control lever 42 such that when operating handle 52 ismoved clockwise about its pivot, cam portion 53 will raise control lever42 in a counterclockwise direction around pivot 43. This will move gear44 into meshing relation with gear and will thereby cause dotfercylinder 25, the lap feed rolls, calender rolls 30, comb 27 and coilerhead 31 to be operated.

The surface of main cylinder 21 between the forward end of revolvingflats 24 and a point closely adjacent to the point of tangency of maincard cylinder 21 and doifer cylinder 25 is covered by a front plate 54to prevent the casting ofi of fibers from main cylinder 21 and toprotect the fibers from harmful air currents. Front plate 54 is formedin three sections, i.e., upper, middle, and lower sections 54a, 54b and540, respectively. The upper section 54a is adjustable relative to thesurface of main cylinder 21 to control the amount of waste removed byrevolving flats 24. The middle section 54b of front plate 54 comprises adoor which allows access to the surface of main cylinder 21 forstripping and grinding purposes. The lower section 54c is also referredto as the make-up piece and is adjustable relative to the surface ofmain cylinder 21 for controlling the air currents generated by rotationof main cylinder 21. The upper surface of doffer cylinder 25 is enclosedby a casing 55 which engages lower section or make-up piece 54c at apoint spaced from the point of tangency of the main and doffercylinders, and thereby protects the dofier cylinder and prevents harmfulair currents and the like from damaging any textile fibers thereon whichhave not been removed by comb 27.

The foregoing has been a description of a typical conventional cardingmachine of which there are many different types. Turning now to adescription of the present invention and referring more specifically toFIGURES 1 through 4, a preferably cylindrical pipe is mounted on make-uppiece 54c and extends for substantially the full length thereof andtherefore for the full width of main cylinder 21. Pipe 60 has a portionof the wall thereof cut away along the chord of the are formed by thisportion of the pipe. The thusly formed out edges are disposed inengagement with make-up piece 540 and pipe 60 is mounted on make-uppiece 540 by any suitable means such as welding 61 to form an air tightseal. An elongate opening 62 is formed in the portion of make-up piece54c between the cut edges of pipe 66 and communicates with the surfaceof main cylinder 21. It is noted that opening 62 is formed throughmake-up piece 540 at a downwardly extending angle relative to thehorizontal, so that textile fibers will not be east through opening 62into pipe 69.

It is noted that opening 62 is of a length substantially the same as theWidth of clothing 22 on main cylinder 21 and that pipe 60 serves toreinforce make-up piece 54c which has been weakened somewhat by theformation of opening 62 therethrough. A pair of fluid supply lines 63are connected at one end to each of pipe 69 and communicate with theinterior thereof. Opposite ends of fluid supply lines 63 are connectedby a T-type connection 64 to one end of a main fluid supply line 65.Main line 65 has a valve 66, preferably of the butterfly type, but whichmay be of any suitable construction, disposed therein to control theflow of fluid therethrough. The other end of main supply line 65 isconnected to a valve regulator 67 which controls the pressure applied tovalve 66 to insure that a constant pressure is maintained in main supplyline 65 on the opposite side of valve 66 from pipe 60. The other side ofvalve regulator 67 is connected by a fluid supply line 70 to a suitablefluid pressure source 6 71 such as an air compressor or the like whichis indicated schematically in FIGURE 11.

Valve 66 is mounted for pivotal movement from a closed position whichdoes not allow any fluid flow in main supply line 65 to an open positionwhich allows maximum fluid flow in line 65 by an actuating arm 72 whichpenetrates through a hearing 73 mounted in supply line 65. The outer endof actuating arm 72 is formed into a crank portion 72:: to which one endof a connecting link 74 is pivotally connected. The other end ofconnecting link 74 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a slidebar 75. Slide bar 75 is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in apair of spaced bearings 76. A connecting bar 77 is fixedly connected atone end to slide bar 75 intermediate the bearings 76 and has a collarportion 77a at the other end thereof.

A governor 80 controls valve 66 and includes a first collar 81 mountedon one end of a shaft 82 for rotation therewith. A plurality of brackets83 are mounted on first collar 81 and have the upper ends of a pluralityof upper links 34 mounted thereon for rotation with collar 81. Aplurality of lower links 85 are pivotally mounted at their upper ends onthe lower ends of upper links 84 by pivot pins 86. Pins 86 have oppositeends thereof weighted to provide centrifugal force as the same rotatewith shaft 82 to cause upper links 84 to pivot upwardly and outwardly oncollar 81. The lower ends of lower links 85 are pivotally connected to asecond or lower collar 87 which is loosely mounted on shaft 82 forreciprocatory movement therealong.

Lower collar 37 is also weighted to cause the same to readily movedownwardly as rotation of shaft 82 decreases. Lower collar 87 has anannular groove in the outer surface thereof which loosely receivescollar portion 77a of connecting bar 77 for reciprocatory movementtherewith. It is noted that the loose mounting of collar portion 77aallows lower collar 87 to rotate therein.

The lower end of shaft 82 is journaled for rotation in a bearing 90which may be mounted at a convenient place on the frame of the cardingmachine. A variable V- pulley 91 is drivingly mounted on shaft 82 andincludes a first half portion 92 drivingly mounted on shaft 82 by a key93 cooperating with alined grooves in the first portion 92 of pulley 91and shaft 82. First portion 92 has a hub 94 thereon which is externallythreaded and matingly receives the internally threaded hub 95 of secondhalf portion 96 of pulley 91. Rotation of second half portion 96relative to first half portion 92 moves second half portion 96 toward oraway from first half portion 92 to vary the effective diameter of pulley91 to vary the speed at which shaft 82 is driven. A lock nut 97 is alsomounted on hub 94 to lock second half portion 96 in adjusted position.

A V-belt 98 is supported at one end by pulley 91 and at the other end bya drive pulley 99. Drive pulley 99 is mounted on shaft 46 of doffercylinder 25 for rotation therewith and hence governor 86 registers or isresponsive to the speed of rotation of dofler cylinder 25 or the absenceof such speed and controls valve 66 accordingly. It is noted that whilethe above-described structure for controlling valve 66 in response tothe speed of dofler cylinder 25 is preferred, any suitable speedresponsive or speed registering means may be used without departing fromthe spirit of the instant invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 through 7 wherein another embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention is shown, and wherein like referencecharacters are used to designate like parts, a pipe 109 of substantiallythe same construction as pipe 60 is mounted on the middle section oraccess door 54b of front plate 54 by any suitable means such as welding161. As was the case with pipe 60, a portion of the wall of pipe 100 iscut away along the chord of the arc defined thereby and the cut edgesare positioned in engagement with access door 54b.

It is noted that access door 54b serves to close the opening formed bythe cutting away of this portion and welding 101 forms an air tightseal.

A plurality of spaced, elongate openings 102 are formed in the portionof access door 54b disposed between the cut edges of pipe 160 and aredisposed in two parallel rows. It is noted that the elongate openings102 in one of said rows are staggered relative to the elongate openingsof the other row and each of the openings in each of said rows is ofsufficient length to span the space between the adjacent pair ofopenings in the other row. Thusly, the openings 102 will direct a streamof air against the surface of main cylinder 21 throughout the widththereof.

Pipe 100 is connected to a fluid pressure source (not shown) in the samemanner as pipe 66 by a pair of fluid supply lines 163 communicating withopposite ends thereof and the application of fluid thereto is controlledin substantially the same manner as with pipe 60. As was the case withopening 62, openings 162 are formed in the access door 54b at adownwardly extending angle relative to the horizontal to prevent textilefibers from being cast off of main cylinder 21 through openings 1 12into the pipe 100.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 through 10, wherein there is shown stillanother embodiment of the present invention, and wherein like referencecharacters are used to designate like parts, a first pipe 110 is mountedin spaced brackets 111 which are in turn mounted on access door 5412 bybolts 112. Preferably, brackets 111 are formed of hard fibrous materialor of suitable plastic material. However, it is contemplated that anysuitable bracket may be used. Pipe 11% is preferably constructed of asuitable transparent plastic material such that an operator of thecarding machine may view the interior of pipe 110.

Access door 54b has an elongate opening 113 formed therein of a lengthsubstantially the same as the width of main cylinder 21 and the portionsof access door 54b defining the side walls of opening 113 and theportions adjacent thereto are milled to :provide a concave arc-uate seatfor pipe 110 with the milled portions having the same radius as theouter radius of pipe 110. The points of engagement of pipe 110 withaccess door 5% are preferably caulked as indicated at 114 to provide anair tight seal.

An elongate opening 115 is formed in the portion of pipe 110 disposed inelongate opening 113 such that the interior of pipe 116 communicatestherethrough with the outer surface of main cylinder 21. tions of pipe110 are provided with slits 116 therein to provide a split portion ateach end which split portions are surrounded by split clamps 117 havingscrews 118 connecting the opposite ends thereof for providing acompressive clamping force to the split portions of pipe 110.

A second pipe 121) is mounted within pipe 110 and extends therethrough.Pipe 120 is likewise preferably constructed of a transparent plasticmaterial such that the operator may view the interior thereof. Pipe 12%)has an elongate opening 121 formed therein of a length substantially thesame as the width of main cylinder 21. Opening 121 is preferably formedin an area of pipe 120 corresponding to the area of pipe 110 in whichopening 115 is formed such that openings 115 and 121 may be alined.Also, openings 115 and 121 are formed in pipes 110 and 120 at adownwardly extending angle relative to the horizontal as was the casewith openings 62 and 102. Pipe 120 is mounted for rotation in pipe 110and is clampingly held in adjusted position by clamps 117 and the splitportions of pipe 110. It is to be noted that the degree of alinement ofopenings 115 and 121 determine the size of the effective opening whichcommunicates with the surface of main cylinder 21 to thereby determinethe velocity of the air currents being directed against main cylinder21.

Opposite end pori The portions of pipe 120 closely adjacent to the endsof pipe 110 are preferably provided with suitable graduations asindicated at 123 which cooperate with a point 124 on the ends of pipe110 to give a visual representation of the effective size of the openingcommunicating with main cylinder 21 as determined by the relativealinement of openings 115 and 12 1. Also, it is noted that thetransparent character of pipes 110 and 120 allows the operator tovisually monitor the relative alinement of openings 115 and 121. Fluidsupply lines 124, only one of which is shown, are connected to oppositeends of pipe 120 and serve to deliver fluid under pressure thereto froma suitable fluid source as was the case in the previously describedembodiments.

In operation, when the normal operation of the carding machine 26 isdesired to be interrupted, the operator lifts upwardly on operatinghandle 52 which allows the control lever 42 to move downwardly aboutpivot pin 43. This downward movement of control lever 42 moves piniongear 44 out of meshing relationship with gear thereby terminating thedrive to doffer cylinder 25.

It is noted that while dotfer cylinder 25 is rotating at normaloperating speed, shaft 46 thereof drives pulley 99 which in turn drivespulley 91 by V-belt 98. Pulley 91 drives shaft 82 which rotates governor80 and governor 80 thereby registers the speed of rotation of doifercylinder 25. The effective diameter of pulley 91 is adjusted in themanner aforementioned by adjusting second portion 96 relative to firstportion 92 to adjust the speed of shaft 82 to rotate governor 80sufliciently fast to cause weighted pins 86 to cause upper links 84 tomove upwardly and outwardly and to thereby raise lower collar 87 throughlower links 85. Lower collar 87 raises connecting bar 77 therewith whichin turn raises slide bar 75 in bearings 76. Slide bar 75 rotates crankportion 72a of actuating arm 72 through connecting link 74 to move valve66 to the closed position to prevent flow of fluid to pipe 6% throughmain supply line and lines 63.

When normal operation of dolfer cylinder 25 is interrupted in the manneraforementioned, dolfer cylinder 25 decelerates from normal operatingspeed to a full or complete stop. As doffer cylinder 25 decelerates, therotation of shaft 82 decreases and thereby the speed of rotation ofgovernor 80 is decreased. Therefore, lower collar 37 moves downwardly adistance proportionate to the decrease in speed which moves slide bardownwardly and opens valve 66 a proportional amount. This allows air toflow through main supply line 65 to lines 63 and thence to pipe 60. Itis noted that this flow of air is directly proportional to the openingof valve 66 which, as aforementioned, is inversely proportional to thespeed of doifer cylinder 25.

The air escapes from pipe 60 through opening 62 and is directed therebyonto the surface of the main cylinder in a direction to exert a force onthe textile fibers carried by the main cylinder having at least acomponent thereof directed inwardly toward the axis of the main cylinderto tend to move these fibers deeper into clothing 22. Since the transferof fibers from the main cylinder to the doifer cylinder is caused, atleast in part, by centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the maincylinder, this transfer of fibers may be controlled by varying the forceexerted on the fibers inwardly toward the axis of the main cylinder byvarying the air stream escaping from the opening 62. Therefore, thetransfer of fibers from the main cylinder to the doffer cylinder isdecreased in direct proportion to the deceleration of doifer cylinder 25since the flow of air from opening 62 is increased as dofier cylinder 25decelerates.

When doffer cylinder 25 is completely stopped, valve 66 is opened tosuch a degree that flow of air from opening 62 is of sufficient force toprevent the transfer of any textile fibers from the main cylinder to thedoifer cylinder. When doffer cylinder 25 is started rotating again, theprocedureis reversed and the flow of air from opening 9 62 is decreasedin proportion to the acceleration of dotfer cylinder 25 so that thetransfer of fibers from the main cylinder to the doffer cylinder isincreased in direct proportion thereto.

It is noted that make-up piece 54c in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2through 4, and make-up piece 540 and access door 54b of the otherembodiments cooperate with the surface of main cylinder 21 to define aclosed space which will confine the air directed onto the surface ofmain cylinder 21 and pressure will therefore be built up therein. Thisincreased pressure will serve to maintain the fibers in the spacesbetween the wires of clothing 22 until the same have passed by the pointof tangency of the main and dolfer cylinders. It is noted that the speedof main cylinder 21 is such that centrifugal force will cause the fibersto move outwardly to the surface of clothing 22 after the same havepassed the point of tangency of the main and doffer cylinders.

When valve 66 is closed and the air stream is not being directed ontothe surface of the main cylinder, the angle at which openings 62, 102,115 and 121 are formed in make-up piece 540, access door 54b and pipes114 and 120, respectively, relative to the horizontal prevents thecasting off of fibers from main cylinder 21 through the openings intothe pipes 60, 100 and 121?. In this regard, since the elongate openings115 and 121 are preferably considerably wider than the elongate openings62 and 102, the angle thereof relative to the horizontal should begreater. Also, the transparency of pipes 111 and 120 allows the operatorto visually monitor the operation thereof to determine when fibers arebeing cast into pipe 120. When this occurs, pipe 120 may be rotatedwithin pipe 119 to reduce the effective opening between main cylinder 21and the interior of pipe 120 to prevent this condition from occurring.Also, pipe 120 may be rotated Within pipe 110 to vary the velocity ofthe air stream passing through openings 115 and 121 to thereby vary theforce applied to the fibers inwardly toward the axis of the maincylinder and hence the depth at which the fibers are forced into thespaces between the wires of clothing 22.

While the present invention has been described in association with asingle card, i.e., a card having only one main cylinder and a doffercylinder, it is to be understood that the present invention may beassociated with cards of other types without departing from the spiritof the present invention. In this regard, tandem cards, i.e., cardshaving two main cylinders arranged in tandem with at least one transfercylinder therebetween and a doffer cylinder on the outlet side of thesecond main cylinder, are now being used extensively in the industry.Since a considerably larger amount of textile fibers are disposed on themain cylinders of these tandem cards at any given time, the problem ofbuild-up or accumulation of fibers on the doffer cylinder when thenormal operation thereof is interrupted is more acute in tandem cardsand the present invention therefore has particular application thereto.It is recognized that some modifications in the structure of the presentinvention and in the manner of controlling the same will be required torender the same applicable to the varying situations and problemsencountered in the operation of varying type cards, including tandemcards, and it should be understood that the same may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the instant invention.

It will therefore be apparent that a novel apparatus and method forpreventing increased build-up or accumulation of fibers on the surfaceof the doffer cylinder when the normal operation thereof is interruptedis provided wherein the transfer of fibers is controlled by applying avarying force thereto in a direction to maintain the fibers on thesurface of the clothing on the main cylinder in varying amounts so thatthe amount of fibers transferred from the main cylinder onto the doifercylinder is directly proportional to the speed of the doffer cylinder.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for carding textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable differ cylinder disposed in closeproximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, said main cylinder having clothing thereon, drive means forrotating said main and dot-fer cylinders, and control means operable tointerrupt the drive to said doffer cylinder without interrupting thedrive to said main cylinder to stop the rotation of said doifer cylinderwhile the rotation of said main cylinder is continued; the combinationof force exerting means operatively associated with said main cylinderforwardly of the point of tangency of said main and dotfer cylindersrelative to the direction of rotation thereof for exerting a force onthe textile fibers carried by said main cylinder in a direction toretain these fibers on the main cylinder, and means operativelyassociated with said doffer cylinder and responsive to the absence ofrotation thereof upon interruption of the drive thereto for actuatingsaid force exerting means to prevent the transfer of fibers from themain cylinder onto the doifer cylinder when the doffer cylinder is notrotating.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said force exerting meansincludes means communicating with the surface of said main cylinder andextending for substantially the full width thereof for directing an airstream onto the surface of said main cylinder to force any textilefibers carried thereby deeper into the clothing thereon.

3. In a machine for carding textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder and a rotatable doffer cylinder disposed inclose proximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, said main cylinder having clothing thereon, drive means forrotating said main and doffer cylinders, and control means operable tointerrupt the drive to said doffer cylinder without interrupting thedrive to said main cylinder to stop the doffer cylinder while therotation of said main cylinder is continued; the combination of meansoperatively associated with said main cylinder forwardly of the point oftangency of said main and doflfer cylinders with respect to thedirection of rotation of the main cylinder and responsive to the absenceof rotation of said doft'er cylinder for directing a stream of air ontothe surface of said main cylinder for substantially the full widththereof to exert a force on the textile fibers carried by the maincylinder in a direction to retain these fibers on the main cylinder andprevent transfer thereof onto the doifer cylinder, and said airdirecting means including means to adjustably vary the velocity of theair stream to thus vary the retaining force exerted on the textilefibers carried by the main cylinder.

4. In a carding machine for textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable dofi'er cylinder disposed inclose proximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, the textile fibers carried by said main cylinder beingtransferred to the doffer cylinder at the point of tangency between saidmain and dolfer cylinders during rotation of said main and doifercylinders, drive means for rotating said main and doifer cylinders, andselectively operable control means for interrupting the drive to saiddoffer cylinder to stop normal rotation thereof and for restarting thedrive to said doffer cylinder for returning the same to normal rotation;the combination of means opertively associated with said main cylinderforwardly of the point of tangency of said main and dofier cylinderswith respect to the direction of rotation of said main cylinder andresponsive to the speed of rotation of said dofler cylinder for varyingthe transfer of fibers from said main 1 1 cylinder to said doifercylinder in direct proportion-to the speed of rotation of the doffercylinder to insure that a. substantially uniform mass of fibers ispresent on the doifer cylinder irrespective of its speed of rotation.

5. In a carding machine for textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable doifer cylinder disposed in closeproximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, the textile fibers carried by said main cylinder being transferred to the doffer cylinder at the point of tangency of said main anddofler cylinders during rotation thereof, drive means for rotating saidmain and dotfer cylinders, and selectively operable control means forinterrupting the drive to said dotfer cylinder to stop normal rotationof said dolfer cylinder so that the same decelerates to a full stop andfor restarting the drive to said doifer cylinder so that the sameaccelerates to normal operating speed; the combination of meansoperatively associated with said main cylinder forwardly of the point oftangency of said main and doffer cylinders with respect to the directionof rotation of said main cylinder and responsive to the speed ofrotation of said dotfer cylinder for exerting an increasing retainingforce on the fibers carried by the main cylinder as the doffer cylinderdecelerates to decrease the transfer of fibers from said main cylinderto said doifer cylinder, for exerting a substantially constant retainingforce on the fibers carried by the main cylinder when the doffercylinder is stopped to prevent the transfer of fibers from the maincylinder to the doffer cylinder, and for exerting a decreasing retainingforce on the fibers carried by the main cylinder as the doffer cylinderaccelerates to normal operating speed to permit increased transfer offibers from the main cylinder to the doifer cylinder to insure that asubstantially uniform mass of fibers is present on the doifer cylinderirrespective of its speed of rotation.

6. In a carding machine for textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable doffer cylinder disposed in closeproximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, the textile fibers carried by said main cylinder beingtransferred to said dofifer cylinder at the point of tangency thereof,drive means for rotating said main and doflFer cylinders, andselectively operable control means for stopping the drive to said doifercylinder to interrupt normal operation thereof and for restarting thedrive to said doifer cylinder to resume normal operation thereof; thecombination of an elongate chamber extending across said main cylinderfor substantially the full width thereof and communicating with thesurface of the main cylinder at a point forwardly of the point oftangency of said main and doffer cylinders with respect to the directionof rotation of said main cylinder, means communicating with said chamberfor supplying air under pressure thereto which is directed by saidchamber onto the surface of the main cylinder in a direction to exert aretaining force on the textile fibers carried by the main cylinder, andvariable means responsive to the speed of rotation of said doifercylinder and operatively associated with said air supplying means forvarying the flow of air to said chamber in inverse proportion to thespeed of the doifer cylinder to vary the transfer of fibers from saidmain cylinder to said dofi'er cylinder in direct proportion to the speedof rotation of the doffer cylinder to insure that a substantiallyuniform mass of textile fibers is present on the doffer cylinderirrespective of its speed of rotation.

7. In a carding machine for textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable doifer cylinder disposed in closeproximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, the textile fibers carried by said main cylinder beingtransferred to said doifer cylinder at the point of tangency thereof,drive means for rotating said main and doffer cylinders, and selectivelyoperable control means for stopping the drive to said dolfer cylinder tointerrupt normal operation thereof and for restarting the drive to saiddoffer cylinder to resume normal operation thereof; the combination ofan elongate plate mounted in juxtaposed relation to the surface of saidmain cylinder and being of a length substantially the same as the widthof said main cylinder and of a width sufficient to cover the surface ofthe main cylinder from a point forwardly of the point of tangency ofsaid main and doifer cylinders with respect to the direction of rotationthereof to a point closely adjacent to said point of tangency, a pipemounted on said plate and extending for substantially the full lengththereof and having a portion thereof disposed against said plate and anelongate opening in said portion thereof, said plate having at least oneelongate opening therein which communicates with the interior of saidpipe through the opening therein and with the surface of said maincylinder, said elongate opening in said plate extending inwardly towardsaid main cylinder at a downwardly directed acute angle relative to thehorizontal and in the general direction of said point of tangency, meansoperatively connected to said pipe for supplying air under pressure tosaid pipe which escapes though said opening therein and through theopening in said plate and is directed thereby onto the surface of saidmain cylinder in a direction to exert a retaining force on the textilefibers carried by the main cylinder, the angular disposition of saidopening in said plate preventing fibers from being cast from the maincylinder into said pipe through said openings when air is not beingdirected therethrough, said plate cooperating with the portion of thesurface of said main cylinder covered thereby to define a substantiallyclosed space which confines the air directed onto the surface of themain cylinder to increase the pressure within the space to continue theretaining force on the fibers to said point closely adjacent to saidpoint of tangency, and variable means responsive to the speed ofrotation of said doffer cylinder and operatively associated with saidair supplying means for varying the flow of air to said pipe in inverseproportion to the speed of rotation of the doifer cylinder to vary thetransfer of fibers from said main cylinder to said doffer cylinder indirect proportion to the speed of rotation of the doffer cylinder toinsure a substantially uniform mass of fibers is present on the doffercylinder irrespective of its speed of rotation.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said plate has a pair ofparallel rows of spaced elongate openings therein, the elongate openingsof one of said rows being staggered relative to the elongate openings ofthe other row and of sufiicient length to span the space therebetween,said parallel rows cooperating to provide openings through which theinterior of said pipe communicates with the surface of said maincylinder for substantially the full width thereof.

9. In a carding machine for textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable doffer cylinder disposed in closeproximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, the textile fibers carried by said main cylinder beingtransferred to said dofier cylinder at the point of tangency thereof,drive means for rotating said main and doffer cylinders, and selectivelyoperable control means for stopping the drive to said doifer cylinder tointerrupt normal operation thereof and for restarting the drive'to saiddo]?- er cylinder to resume normal operation thereof; the combination ofan elongate plate mounted in juxtaposed relation to the surface of saidmain cylinder and being of a length substantially the same as the widthof said main cylinder and of a width sufficient to cover the surface ofthe main cylinder from a point forwardly of the point of tangency ofsaid main and doifer cylinders with respect to the direction of rotationthereof to a point closely adjacent to said point of tangency, a pipemounted on said plate and extending for substantially the full lengththereof and having an elongate opening in the portion thereof disposedagainst said plate, said plate having an elongate restricted openingtherein of a length substantially the same as the width of said maincylinder and which communicates with the interior of said pipe throughthe opening therein and with the surface of said main cylinder, meansoperatively connected to said pipe for supplying air under pressure tosaid pipe which escapes through said opening therein and through theopening in said plate and is directed thereby onto the surface of saidmain cylinder in a direction to exert a retaining force on the textilefibers carried by the main cylinder, said plate cooperating with theportion of the surface of said main cylinder covered thereby to define asubstantially closed space which confines the air directed onto thesurface of the main cylinder to increase the pressure within the spaceto continue the retaining force on the fibers to said point closelyadjacent to said point of tangency, and variable means responsive to thespeed of rotation of said doffer cylinder and operatively associatedwith said air supplying means for varying the flow of air to said pipein inverse proportion to the speed of rotation of the doffer cylinder tovary the transfer of fibers from said main cylinder to said doffercylinder in direct proportion to the speed of rotation of the doffercylinder to insure a substantially uniform mass of fibers is present onthe doffer cylinder irrespective of its speed of rotation.

10. In a carding machine for textile fibers, said carding machine havinga rotatable main cylinder, a rotatable doffer cylinder disposed in closeproximity to said main cylinder and defining therewith a point oftangency, the textile fibers carried by said main cylinder beingtransferred to said doffer cylinder at the point of tangency thereof,drive means for rotating said main and doffer cylinders, and selectivelyoperable control means for stopping the drive to said doffer cylinder tointerrupt normal operation thereof and for restarting the drive to saiddolfer cylinder to resume normal operation thereof; the combination ofan elongate plate mounted in juxtaposed relation to the surface of saidmain cylinder and being of a length substantially the same as the widthof said main cylinder and of a width suflicient to cover the surface ofthe main cylinder from a point forwardly of the point of tangency ofsaid main and doffer cylinders with respect to the direction of rotationthereof to a point closely adjacent thereto, said plate having anelongate opening therein of a length substantially the same as the widthof said main cylinder, 21 first pipe mounted on said plate and extendingfor substantially the full length thereof with a portion thereofdisposed in the opening in said plate, said first pipe having anelongate opening in the portion thereof disposed within the opening insaid plate so that the interior of said first pipe communicates with thesurface of the main cylinder, a second pipe disposed in said first pipeand being of a length greater than said first pipe, said second pipehaving an elongate opening therein which is adapted to be alined withthe opening in said first pipe so that the interior of said second pipecommunicates with the surface of said main cylinder, said second pipebeing mounted for limited rotation within said first pipe to vary thealinement of the opening in said second pipe with the opening in saidfirst pipe, means operatively connected to said pipe for supplying airunder pressure to said pipe which escapes through said opening thereinand through the opening in said plate and is directed thereby onto thesurface of said main cylinder in a direction to exert a retaining forceon the textile fibers carried by the main cylinder, and variable meansresponsive to the speed of rotation of said doffer cylinder andoperatively associated with said air supplying means for varying thefiow of air to said pipe in inverse proportion 14 to the speed ofrotation of the doffer cylinder to vary the transfer of fibers from saidmain cylinder to said doffer cylinder in direct proportion to the speedof rotation of the doffer cylinder to insure a substantially uniformmass of fibers is present on the dofier cylinder irrespective of itsspeed of rotation.

11. A method of operating a textile card to control the transfer offibers from a rotating main cylinder to an adjacent doffer cylinderduring such periods of time when the normal operation of the doffercylinder is interrupted, said method comprising directing a stream ofair onto the surface of the main cylinder for substantially the fullwidth thereof at a point forwardly of the closest point of proximity ofthe main cylinder to the doffer cylinder with respect to the directionof rotation thereof to exert a retaining force on the fibers carried bythe main cylinder, and varying the stream of air in inverse proportionto the speed of rotation of the doffer cylinder to vary the transfer offibers in direct proportion to the speed of rotation of the doffercylinder.

12. A method of operating a card to control the transference of textilefibers from the main cylinder thereof onto the dofier when the normaloperation of the dofier cylinder has been interrupted and the normalfeeding of fibers into and out of the card has been interrupted, but themain cylinder continues to rotate at normal operating speed, said methodcomprising directing a stream of air against the surface of the rotatingmain cylinder at a location forwardly of the point of tangency of themain and doffer cylinders with respect to the direction of rotationthereof to move the textile fibers carried by the main cylinder deeperinto the card clothing thereon while confining the air stream within aclosed space communicating with the surface of the main cylinder fromsaid point forwardly of the point of tangency of the main and dofiercylinders to a point closely adjacent to the point of tangency toincrease the pressure on the portion of the main cylinder with which thespace communicates to maintain the textile fibers at the greater depthwithin the card clothing and varying the steam of air in inverseproportion to the speed of the doffer cylinder so that the transfer offibers is decreased as the speed of the doffer cylinder is decreased,the transfer of fibers is stopped when the doffer cylinder is notrotating, and the transfer of fibers is increased as the speed of thedoffer is increased upon restarting thereof.

13. A method of operating a textile card to retain textile fibers on arotating main cylinder during such periods when the adjacent doffercylinder is stopped, said method comprising the steps of registering theabsence of rotation of the doffer cylinder, and in response theretodirecting a stream of air onto the surface of the main cylinder forsubstantially the full width thereof at a point forwardly of the closestpoint of proximity of the main cylinder to the doffer cylinder withrespect to the direction of rotation thereof to exert a force on thefibers carried thereby in a direction to retain these fibers on the maincylinder and thus to prevent the transfer of fibers from the maincylinder onto the doffer cylinder when the doffer cylinder is notrotating.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1911 France. 4/ 1928Great Britain.

1. IN A MACHINE FOR CARDING TEXTILE FIBERS, SAID CARDING MACHINE HAVINGA ROTATABLE MAIN CYLINDER, A ROTATABLE DIFFER CYLINDER DISPOSED IN CLOSEPROXIMITY TO SAID MAIN CYLINDER AND DEFINING THEREWITH A POINT OFTANGENCY, SAID MAIN CYLINDER HAVING CLOTHING THEREON, DRIVE MEANS FORROTATING SAID MAIN AND DOFFER CYLINDERS, AND CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE TOINTERRUPT THE DRIVE TO SAID DOFFER CYLINDER WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THEDRIVE TO SAID MAIN CYLINDER TO STOP THE ROTATION OF SAID DOFFER CYLINDERWHILE THE ROTATION OF SAID MAIN CYLINDER IS CONTINUED; THE COMBINATIONOF FORCE EXERTING MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MAIN CYLINDERFORWARDLY OF THE POINT OF TANGENCY OF SAID MAIN AND DOFFER CYLINDERSRELATIVE TO THE DIRECTIONOF ROTATION THEREOF FOR EXERTING A FORCE ON THETEXTILE FIBERS CARRIED BY SAID MAIN CYLINDER IN A DIRECTION TO RETAINTHESE FIBERS ON THE MAIN CYLINDER, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATEDTIWHT SAID DOFFER CYLINDER AND RESPONSIVE TO THE ABSENCE OF ROTATIONTHEREOF UPON INTERRUPTION OF THE DRIVE THERETO FOR ACTUATING SAID FORCEEXERTING MEANS TO PREVENT THE TRANSFER FO FIBERS FROM THE MAIN CYLINDERONTO THE DOFFER CYLINDER WHEN THE DOFFER CYLINDER IS NOT ROTATING.